Parents Who Post: What Was Shared vs. What Really Happened
I like to browse Facebook as much as the next stay-at-home mama, but in order to enjoy myself, I do have to remember that it's not really real. I don't need to tell you that Instagram and Facebook are inundated with happy posts of happy children and seemingly happy families, which leave many of us thinking, "Wow, they always seems so happy! What's wrong with me [my kids, my husband, my dog . . . ]?" Just remember, social media provides a very skewed reality of parenting. In fact, imagining what might really be going on behind the camera helps a lot, so here are a few (completely made-up, by the way) scenarios that you may find in your news feed — and then what probably actually happened.
What Was Posted
"Sibling love #blessed" Source: Flickr user Dustin Jensen
What Really Happened
"So much for clean clothes #pleasestopfighting" Source: Flickr user Dustin Jensen
What Was Posted
"Wonderful family trip to Disney! #HappiestPlaceOnEarth" Source: Flickr user Betsy Watters
What Really Happened
"Couldn't get her to ride anything with me #teens" Source: Flickr user Harry Heng
What Was Posted
"Made these special cupcakes for my perfect lil girl today #shesgonnabesohappy" Source: Flickr user Giovanni Arteaga
What Really Happened
"I guess she wanted pink cupcakes with purple sprinkles #fail" Source: Flickr user Abigail Batchelder
What Was Posted
"First haircut! #handsomeboy" Source: Flickr user Eric Ritchey
What Really Happened
"Daddy is so on haircut duty next time #scarredforlife" Source: Flickr user Eric Ritchey
What Was Posted
"Amazing day at the park #100happydays" Source: Flickr user Kona Gallagher
What Really Happened
"Mulch in the shoe meltdown #whydoplaygroundsuseit" Source: Flickr user Kona Gallagher
What Was Posted
"He's going to be an artist #lookoutPicasso" Source: Flickr user aaron gilson
What Really Happened
"I'm gonna kill him #threesarewaymoreterrible" Source: Flickr user Liza
What Was Posted
"What great little helpers I have #HappyEaster" Source: Flickr user Philip Dean
What Really Happened
"OMG, dye everywhere! And on everything! #worstideaever" Source: Flickr user St0rmz
What Was Posted
"Real men do diapers #Ilovemyman" Source: Flickr user makelessnoise
What Really Happened
"Another day in the life of raising two children #gonnareusethose" Source: Flickr user Michael Thompson
What Was Posted
"Best friends forever #IloveALLmykids" Source: Flickr user Gúnna
What Really Happened
"Poor cat #bottomofthetotempole" Source: Flickr user Aka Hige
What Was Posted
"My ballerina is ready for her big debut! #futurestar" Source: Flickr user Dan Hatton
What Really Happened
"And I paid how much for this? #terrified" Source: Flickr user Paulette and Dave Brown
What Was Posted
"My little animal lover #pettingzoo" Source: Flickr user London looks
What Really Happened
"Meltdown because he wasn't allowed to pull the animals' tails #purell" Source: Flickr user Joel Kramer